The Story Siren

How to Fight Back Against the Signs of Aging

The great writer George Orwell once said: “At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.” While none of us can escape the process of aging, by living a healthier lifestyle and adopting certain habits, we can help ourselves to look and feel younger for longer.

With that in mind, here are some common signs of aging, with tips on how to reduce them.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles are the result of the skin losing its elasticity over time, and they are one of the surest signs that someone is aging. There are, however, a number of ways that you can combat wrinkles. Getting plenty of sleep – ideally between eight and nine hours a night – can help, as can the way in which you sleep. If you sleep with your face pressed into the pillow, it is possible for “sleep lines” to form, and they gradually turn into wrinkles over time.

Regularly moisturizing and cleansing your face can also help to combat wrinkles, keeping the skin elastic and radiant – but make sure that you choose a good-quality product. Remember all of those TV adverts, with magical serums and potions promising to help you look younger? Well, some of them actually work! Look out for a Sta-Tight Wrinkle Treatment (you can phone up to order this item). This is a topical alternative to Botox, which works to reduce the age lines on the face without the need to resort to risky and expensive surgery.

Another tip to help combat wrinkles is an easy one: drink lots of water! Our bodies are primarily made up of water, and it is recommended that you drink between eight and 12 glasses a today to ensure that your levels are replenished and that your skin is left looking healthy.

Gray hair

Gray hair is caused by the pigment cells in your hair becoming inactive. While the likelihood of you having gray hair is largely determined by genetics, the lifestyle that you lead can also result in your hair prematurely losing its luster and color. To combat this, try eating foods such as walnuts, prawns, chicken, and broccoli. Walnuts are rich in copper, which is a vital element in the production of melanin, the pigment that controls the color of your hair. Prawns contain high levels of zinc and omega 3, which help keep your hair strong, while chicken is rich in vitamin B12, a lack of which can lead to prematurely gray hair. Finally, broccoli gives us folic acid, which has been linked to better hair health.

Things to avoid if gray hair runs in your family and you’re wanting it to skip a generation, or at least keep it at bay for a while longer, include too much sugar and smoking. It’s also imperative that you get plenty of vitamin D in your system as this is what hair follicles are primarily made of.

Receding hair

An issue primarily in men, receding hair can also affect women, particularly those suffering from stress. Losing your hair can be genetic, but it can also be triggered by poor lifestyle factors, such as a bad diet or a lack of exercise. To combat receding hair, you should avoid washing your hair too much – two or three times a week should do the job – and eat foods that are rich in iron, protein, and vitamin B.

Crow’s feet

Crow’s feet are small lines or wrinkles that form around the eyes. They tend to start to appear once you hit your mid to late 30s and are caused by a lack of collagen and elastin. There are several natural remedies that can help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, including applying an egg white solution to the area, using aloe vera or rubbing coconut oil into the bits around your eyes.

Weight/body issues

Whether it’s a beer gut or excess skin around the stomach caused by a pregnancy, aging can leave us looking distinctly larger than we were in our younger years. Many people assume that weight gain is just an inevitable byproduct of the aging process, but this isn’t true. Sure, while you’re never going to look like you did at 21 again, there are steps that you can take to combat weight gain. Weight gain is largely caused by muscle loss, so ensure that you stay fit and active.

The above issues are just some of the signs of aging. If you want to avoid these, follow our advice and – importantly – don’t give in!